Tile cutting machine



TILE CUTTING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1960 ATIORNEY May 22, 1962 J. D. scHMuNK ETAL 3,035,469

TILE CUTTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1960 INVENToRs. JOHN D. SCHMUNK W BijALL E. GILLlLAND May 22, 1952 .1. D. SCHMUNK ETAL 3,035,469

TILE CUTTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed May 16, 1960 v JNVENToRs. SCHMUNK BI'IALL E. GILLILAND JOHN @Maz LLL ATTORNEY May 22, 1962 J. D. SCHMUNK ETAL 3,035,469

TILE CUTTING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HVVENTURS. JOHN D SCHMUNK HALL E.GHJJLND ATTORNEY United? States arent ities www patented May 22, i962 This invention relates to the manufacture of tile of clay or the like, such for example, as used for drainage purposes.

Reference is hereby made to our copending patent application Serial No. 812,393 tiled May l1, 1959, now Patent No. 3,008,216, and entitled Apparatus for Handling `and Severing Tile of which this application constitutes a continuation-impart. In that application there 1s shown and described a cutter dolly which imparts a rolling, traveling movement to the tile and, `during such movement, the tile is severed into sections. In achieving this movement, idler rolls were shown which iit between adjacent tile and as the cutter dolly advanced, the rollers pressed against the lback of the Itile and imparted the rolling advancing movement. This operated satisfactory to a large extent, `but in the event the clay was not of the right consistency or for other reasons, the rollers in pressing against the soft tile, Would collapse them and not only render them Iuseless but require costly shutdown of the entire machine until the damaged or collapsed tile were removed.

lt is a desideraturn to overcome the above diiliculty and improve the action of the cutter dolly to obviate the damage to the tile regardless of the condition or softness of the clay or tile material.

Another object is to produce simple and efficient means for driving the tile-engaging rollers of the cutter dolly so that the desired rolling motion of the tile is insured even when the tile is so soft and plastic that any substantial pressure against the walls thereof lwould result in collapse.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is U shown on the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view in the nature of a flow chart showing the path traveled by the tile from the time it is delivered to the machine until it is deposite-d in stack formation on a kiln car;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing the second stage conveyor and in particular the cutter dolly raised above a row of tile delivered into position beneath the dolly;

FIGURE 3 -is a fragmentary elevation similar to that of FIGURE 2 except that the dolly is in its lowered position preparatory to its advancing movement for moving the tile in a lateral direction;

FIGURE 4 is a broken away fragmentary View in elevation of a portion of the cutter dolly showing the mounting of one of the cutter knives and one of the tile engaging rollers adjacent thereto;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View substantially on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4 showing the man-ner in which the knife blade is forced through the tile wall;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational View on an enlarged scale showing Vthe manner in which the dolly rollers engage the tile and lalso showing the knurled rollers engaging the rubber covered rail for imparting positive rotation to the rollers to drive the tile;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5 showing particularly the positive means for driving the tile engaging rollers; and

FIGURE 8 is 'a fragmentary sectional view of one of the tile engaging rollers.

In the flow chart shown on FIGURE l, a machine is `diagrammatically illustrated to which relatively long lengths of clay in relatively plastic condition are delivered `directly from aconventional extruder machine, which in this instance moves a double column of tile at the rate of approximately ninety feet per minute, the endless tile being cut to forthy-two inch lengths and these lengths are delivered in -a double row to a dump conveyor A. The relatively long tile T are advanced along the dump conveyor A until a limit switch (not shown) is reached whereupon the conveyor stops yand tilts laterally to dis charge the tile T upon a slightly inclined table 6 along which the tile roll in the direction of the arrow a until they reach a second stage conveyor B. Associated with the table 6 is an electric counter 8 which, after eight tile T have lbeendelivered to the second stage conveyor B, energizes the latter, thereby to advance in the direction ot' the arrow b lthe lgroup of eight tile endwise to a position beneath a cutter dolly C which lowers to cause rollers to engage `between the respective tile in such manner as to separate them one from .the other. When the cutter dollyv is set in motion to move laterally as indicated by the arrow c, cutter knives are actuated to extend into the several tile in such manner that each tile T is severed into three tiles Ta with an expendable end ring Tb. Thus the knives remain relatively stationary and the severance is effected by the rolling motion of the tile caused by the advancing movement of the cutter dolly and by means of driven rollers, so that the several tile are positively rotated during the advancing movement of the cutter dolly C, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The Icutter dolly C advances until it is disposed above an npender tray D whereupon the dolly raises above the tile and then retracts to its original position to repeat the operation on the next succeeding group of tile T. The tile Ta and rings Tb on the upender tray yare then clamped -at opposite ends for holding the group of tile in proper position. Then the upender tray is propelled forwardly in the direction of the arrow d and rocked to a vertical position directly above a lkiln oar E. The end clamping members are released in such manner that the stacks of tile drop approximately one inch upon the deck of a kiln car. In order to make way for the next stack Vof tile, the `kiln car is indexed |ahead to be in position to receive the next group in close relation. The cutter dolly C `alternately stops at an advanced position and in a position slightly rearwardly, this indexing enabling the stacks of tile when discharged upon the kiln car to crotch with the other stack so that the kiln car can carry a maximum load. l

Full and complete description of the various components of this machine are not given here vbecause the invention in this case is concerned with Ian important change in the cutter dolly Vand it is therefore believed suicient for a full understanding of the invention to make only a detail illustration and description of the cutter dolly.

As above indicated, the lrelatively long tile T are advanced endwise by the second stage conveyor B to a posi- -t-ion beneath the cutter dolly C, the tile abutting against a stop plate (not shown) so that they are properly aligned at their ends and thereupon the `stop plate is retracted. It should be understood that the conveyor B continues to operate a short period after the stop plate is engaged by the tile and then the conveyor B stops. The cutter dolly comprises a pair of laterally spaced upright side plates lll and 1l suitably connected by cross braces l2. The lower edges of each of the -side plates is formed with scallops (FIGURE 6) and connecting the lower ends of the respective scallops are free turning, lightweight rollers 13. In this instance, each roller 13 is formed substantially as shown on FIGURE 8 and is provided with a rubber covering 16. Fixed in `any suitable manner to opposite ends of each of the rolls 16 is a trunnion or shaft section l5 which extends through brackets 14 depending from the side plates and also through a bearing sleeve 14a xed as by welding to the adjacent `bracket 14. At the outer end portion of one of the shaft portions 15 and particularly the one projecting outwardly of the side plate 11 (FIGURE 4) is fixed an exteriorly knurled drive roller 17 which is slightly smaller in diameter than that of the rubber covered roller 13. As will hereinafter appear, as the cutter dolly advances, the knurled rollers 17 positively drive the rollers 13 for insuring the proper rolling action of the tile T as the latter advances.

The rollers 13 extend from side to side of the dolly substantially the entire length of the tile T and are arranged to engage the various tile throughout their length, a roller being disposed to engage a rear portion of each tile when the dolly is advancing and the spacing being such that while at rest, a roller engages the front and also the rear of each tile in the region slightly below their top surface as particularly indicated on FIGURES 3 and 6.

The cutter dolly C is mounted for to and fro translatory movements in a horizontal plane and, as shown, the side plates of the dolly are equipped with spaced guide rollers 18 arranged at the front and rear end portions thereof. The rollers 18 engage in horizontally elongate tracks 19 arranged on opposite sides of the cutter dolly and carried by an elongate guide frame 20. The frame 20 has up and down movement guided by suitable rollers which traverse suitable vertical pads (not shown) on the supporting frame.

For raising and lowering the guide frame 20, a rock arm 21 is disposed at opposite ends of the frame (only one being shown on the drawings) and extends upwardly therefrom. The lower end of each rock arm is secured to a cross shaft 22 to which are fixed downwardly inclined arms 23 to the lower ends of which is xed a transverse rod 24 having rollers 25. The rollers 25 engage in a horizontal guide track 26 so that by rocking the arms 21 in one direction or the other, the guide frame 20 is raised or lowered. The rock arms 21 are connected for conjoint operation and are operated by a piston and cylinder arrangement under fluid pressure (not shown on the drawings). Suflice it to say that such hydraulic or uid pressure means operates in timed relation to effect the desired movement.

It will be understood that normally the guide frame 20 iS in its raised position so that the cutter dolly is disposed above the tile T, which are advanced to positions therebeneath by the second stage conveyor B. However, when the tile engages the stop plate as above mentioned, a limit switch (not shown) is actuated and energizes after a slight delay sufficient to align the tile ends, a suitable solenoid valve (not shown) to admit liquid under pressure from any suitable source. This operates to lower the cutter dolly and move the several rollers 13 into engagement with the tile causing the latter to separate slightly from each other, a cam-like action resulting so that the tile are shifted out of contact with each other.

Mounted on the dolly frame are laterally spaced brackets 27 to which the forward end of a piston rod 28 is connected. The piston rod 28 has a piston operating in a cylinder 29 carried by longitudinally spaced brackets 30 on the guide frame 20. When the cutter dolly has reached its low position in contact with the tile, a limit switch (not shown) is tripped to cause a solenoid Valve (not shown) to admit liquid under pressure to the cylinder 29 for extending the piston rod 28 and thus moving the dolly to the left of FIGURES 2 and 3. The cutter dolly moves in a gradual acceleration manner and then slows down at the end of its travel, this being controlled by suitable ilow control valves (not shown).

As the cutter dolly advances, a horizontally disposed rail 40, which is suspended by links 41 from the guide frame 20 is rocked downwardly so that a rubber liner 42, which extends from end to end of the underside of the rail is brought into contact with the several knurled rollers 17. The rail 40 is rocked by the action of an hydraulic cylinder 43 which has a piston rod 44 engaging one end of the rail 40, the piston rod being pivotally mounted so that it can rock as the rail is moved to its operative or inoperative position. It will be understood that uid under pressure is delivered to one end or the other of the cylinder 43 to effect the desired movement of the rail and at the proper time, The rail is shifted into engagement with the knurled rollers 17 at the outset of the dolly advancing movement and is retracted or moved away from the knurled rollers after the advancing movement has been completed and before the dolly retracts to its original position.

As the cutter dolly advances, the tile T are out into three separate sections Ta of equal length and an expend able ring Tb. The tile cutter mechanism is carried by the cutter dolly and comprises a plurality of parallel cross shafts 31, one being disposed between each pair of rollers 13. The shafts 31 have bearing in the side plates 10 and 11 and on the outer side of the side plate 11, each of the cross shafts 31 has xed thereto a vertically disposed arm 32, the upper ends of which are connected by a common horizontally disposed bar 33. A coil spring 34 places the bar 33 and associated arm 32 under tension.

At the opposite end of the several cross shafts 31 and on the outside of the dolly plate 10 is a depending arm 35 which has a roller 36 at its outer end engageable with a'. cam track 37. The coil spring 34 urges the roller 36 into engagement with the cam track 37.v Mounted on each of the cross shafts 31 are three spaced knife blades 38 carried by holders 39 fixed to the respective shafts 31 at predetermined positions, enabling three sections Ta of equal length and the expendable ring Tb to be cut.- l

As the cutter dolly advances, the cam follower or roller' 36 for the several cross shafts engages the cam track 37 which is designed to impart rocking movement tothe knives, and cause them to enter the walls of the several tile T. As above pointed out, the several rollers 13 are posi-j tively driven or rotated by engagement between the knurled rollers 17 and the rubber strip 42 on the rail 40. Sin thel several rollers 13 are positively rotated and bear against the tile T, the latter is positively rotated as the cutter dolly advances. Tile cutting takes place in response to the action of the cam follower roller 36 riding along the track 37. After cutting has taken place, the knives 38 are retracted when the follower roller 36 rides over the proper portion of the cam track.

Thus it will be apparent that positive rolling of the tile is effected by the rollers 13 and under pressure of these rollers, the tile is annealed or relieved of strains which are inherent in compacted tile extruded under very high presJ sure by the conventional auger-type tile machine. Roli4 ing of the tile as above described causes the tile to be straight and true cylindrically when discharged from the machine and this obviates a difficulty not infrequently eni countered in the customary handling of tile.

A cardinal feature of this invention resides in the positive driving of the several rollers 13 as the cutter dolly is advanced. This insures that proper rolling ation is imparted to the tile and militates against damage to` the' rela= tively soft tile. Some difficulty has been experienced in the operation of the machine where the rollers 13 were` not positively driven and at certain times tile were damaged by the pressure imposed by the rollers 13 against the walls of the tile. However, by insuring the desired rotation of the rolls 13, this trouble and diiculty have been obviated, and proper rolling of the tile is effected, thereby insuring proper severance and eliminating the liability of damage to the tile heretofore encountered.

Numerous changes in details of construction and arrangement may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a cutter dolly adapted to be disposed above a group of relatively long semi-plastic tile to be severed into lengths and arranged in parallel relation, a plurality of rollers on said dolly arranged in spaced parallel relation, means to lower the dolly so that the rollers are disposed between adjacent tile respectively and in position to bear against the tile directly in front throughout the length thereof, means for horizontally shifting the dolly, a drive roll fixed to each roller, a relatively stationary rail with respect to said dolly having an anti-friction covering on one side, means to cause contact between the rail and rolls as the dolly shifts thereby positively to drive the rollers, a series of knives on the dolly disposed between each pair of adjacent rollers, and means operable during the shifting movement of the dolly to cause the several knives to penetrate the walls of the tile and remain relatively stationary until a complete revolution of the tile has been made thereby to effect severance of the tile into predetermined lengths.

2. In a machine of the class described, a cutter dolly adapted to be disposed above a group of relatively long semiplastic tile to be severed into lengths and arranged in parallel relation, an assembly of rollers in spaced parallel arrangement carried by said dolly, means to lower the assembly to bring said rollers into engagement with the upper surfaces of the tile, means for horizontally shifting said dolly transversely of the axes of the tile, means for rotating said rollers during the shifting movement of said dolly whereby to urge the tile into rolling motion, and cutter means carried by said dolly and urged into cutting engagement with the tile by the shifting movement of said dolly to sever the tile into predetermined lengths.

3. In a machine of the class described, a cutter dolly adapted to be disposed above a group of relatively long semi-plastic tile to be severed into lengths and arranged in parallel relation, 'an assembly of rollers in spaced parallel arrangement carried by said dolly, means to lower the assembly to bring said rollers into engagement with the upper surfaces of the tile, means for horizontally shifting said dolly transversely of the axes of the tile, positive means for driving said rollers during the shifting movement of said dolly to effect rolling motion of the tile, and knife means associated with said dolly to sever the tile into predetermined lengths during the shifting movement of said dolly.

4. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said means for rotating said rollers comprises a relatively stationary rail with respect to said dolly, la drive roller connected to each of said first mentioned rollers, and means to move said rail and said drive rollers into frictional engagement whereby as lthe dolly 4shifts horizontally the frictional engagement between said rail and said drive rollers imparts rotary movement to said first mentioned rollers.

5. The invention delined in claim 4 wherein a rubber covering is provided on the surface of the rail adapted for contact with drive rollers and said drive rollers are knurled on the surface thereof adapted to engage said rubber covering.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 913,620 Connor Feb. 23, 1909 1,120,134 Connor Dec. 8, 1914 1,852,831 Young Apr. 5, 1932 

